Miranda routers for FTV’s new ‘Challenger’ OB trucks

NVISION 8280 Hybrid router and Kaleido KMV-3911 multiviewer modules from Miranda Technologies have been installed in France Télévisions Productions’ two 3G/HD/SD-SDI “Challenger” outside broadcast trucks. The Challenger trucks are 8-to-15-camera 3G production studios mounted on 32-ft trailers and are the latest additions to France Télévisions Productions’ OB fleet.

According to France Télévisions Productions’ deputy director, Michael Friederich: “We wanted to bring our Challenger production units up to full HD capability. We turned to Miranda to help us deal with our already complex and diverse OB truck technical environment. In addition to their proven technology, what sold us on Miranda was the ease of integration. Their routers, optical interfaces and modular multiviewers are very powerful, yet very compact, which gave us the maximum flexibility we need for our mobile productions.”

The Challenger trucks are used daily on productions for all France Télévisions’ channels and are typically deployed throughout France and bordering countries. Sports coverage, daily programmes and live events will all benefit from the trucks’ built-in flexibility.

The NV8280 Hybrid video/audio routers can incorporate matrices up to 288×576 in just 16 RU and feature 3G/HD/SD-SDI video routing with 16 channel audio de-embedding and embedding for each truck.

The Kaleido KMV-3911 multiviewer modules in the new trucks form a flexible, high quality multiviewer platform that is suitable for production applications. The KMV-3911 can provide up to 20 multiviewer outputs within a 3RU Densité frame and still consume less than 300 watts in total. If connected to an upstream router, the KMV-3911 can be expanded up to 288 multiviewer outputs if required.

Both trucks are equipped with Miranda’s Telecast brand T-POV fiber-optic video/data transceiver modules that enable remotely operated, robotic POV camera systems to be connected via fiber. Also included in each truck is Python 3G, Telecast’s multichannel fiber optic HD/SDI transport system.

Richard Couzon, head of sales in France for Miranda, says: “France Télévisions Productions’ mission is to capture and deliver the largest and most popular events, which requires tremendous mobility, flexibility and efficiency.  Our hybrid routing and modular multiviewer solutions are specifically designed to meet the needs of outside broadcast and, with Telecast Fiber now fully integrated into our offering, producers can have confidence that productions will be efficiently supported and enhanced with solutions from Miranda.”